Merchistonian Newsletter
February 2023
February is almost over and the days are certainly getting brighter and longer – do we dare hope that Spring might be here soon?
After a restful Half Term break, our Students have returned to the School and the Campus is alive with much activity. Work on our Chalmers Boarding Houses continues at pace and we are very excited for the handover currently forecast for August 2023.
Following the last issue of the Newsletter, many of you have been in touch with stories and news for the next issues – it is such a pleasure to receive updates from our Merchiston Community and we love to share your stories. We have included in this edition a piece all the way from the Falkland Islands!
If you would like to get in touch with any news, please feel free to email us at merchistonians@merchiston.co.uk.
Burns Supper
On Friday 27th January, the Merchiston Community came together after a 2year hiatus to celebrate Burns Supper and Robert Burn’s life and works. This much-awaited fundraising event was co-hosted by Edinburgh-based charity Cyrenians and took place at Dynamic Earth. All funds raised through the event will be equally split in support of Cyrenian’s work and the Merchiston Castle School Pipe Band, who have been invited to play at Tartan Week in New York in 2024.
Following a welcome by our Headmaster, Mr Anderson, and Ms Bell from Cyrenians, the evening proceedings were guided by the traditional order of events typical of Burns Suppers. Revered Blair opened the event with his rendition of ‘Selkirk Grace’, whilst Mr Ogilvie Jones stunned the audience with his ‘Adress to the Haggis’. Mr Rowlands took the floor after dinner with an incredible ‘Immortal Memory’, followed by Mr Payne and Ms Davies’s ‘Address to the Lassies’ and ‘Reply to the Laddies’.
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The evening progressed into a very special silent Auction with some incredibly generous prizes donated by our Community. Overall, the event has raised a staggering £5,186.50 each for the School Pipe Band and Cyrenians –we are truly blown away by everyone’s generosity and support.
Special thanks should be extended to Mr Ogilvie Jones and Ms Bell who have been planning and organising the event for close to two years. Warm congratulations to our Pipe Band and our Pipe Major Glen C. who accompanied the evening beautifully.
Information Morning
Merchiston will be holding a Spring Information Morning for prospective families who are interested in a Merchiston education for their boys. The event will take place on Saturday 11 March (10:00-12:00) in Memorial Hall and will be styled as a departmental fair. This is a great opportunity for families to meet our staff and find out more about our curriculum
Registrations for the event are open via our website - feel free to spread the word if you know any families who might be interested in considering Merchiston for their sons
We were very saddened to hear of the passing of the following Merchistonians:
1950 - 2023
At Merchiston: 1963-1967
Edin Univ 1971 BSc Med Sci , MB ChB 197; HOuse Physician, Cameron Hosp. Fife; GP, Barnsley, 1977-; Med Dir Barnsley PCT; Occupational Health Physician, Barnsley Hospital; Secy, Barnsley LMC, 1990-; twice Chair, local div. Of BMA.
How far south can you travel in this planet and bump into a Merchistonian?
(by Clive Steeper)While working as a speaker on a cruise ship around South America I spent a day (January 2023) in Stanley, Falkland Islands I happened to mention to Mr Alan Black, my old friend from Merchiston, that I would be visiting the Falkland Islands and he said “Oh you should let Richard McKee know; he lives in Stanley”
And this is how I ended up spending a wonderful few hours with Richard, and not just because he runs a wee gin distillery on the Island using local botanicals. I can now confirm that the Falkland Island Distillery produces very nice gin!!!
My time with Richard involved other wonderful discoveries and proved just what a small world it can be. Firstly, Richard knew Charles MacLean (who inspired and encouraged Richard when starting the gin distillery) and I knew Charles’ brother David - DMB MacLean. David was in the same year as Alan Black & I!
Outside of the Merchiston network, I was astounded to find out that Richard and my wife, Scotland’s first woman to ski to the Magnetic North Pole, Sue Stockdale has common contacts from their time in Chile & South Georgia.
It was wonderful to catch up with Richard and chat about some of the Merchiston characters from the 1970s!
Merchistonian Curling
It was a pleasure to receive the above image of the Merchistonian Curling club from Mr A. Campbell.
The picture was taken on the occasion of the Merchistonian Curling club’s latest match against Kelvinside Accies in the Wanderers League. The match was played at Greenacres on Thursday 2 February.
Our Merchistonian curlers have had a very successful League season with wins against Glasgow Accies, Old Glenalmond and Aberdeen Grammar School FP. We very much look forward to reading more about Merchistonians Curling in the next issue of the Magazine.
In the image, left to right: Allan Higgins (MCS 1952-57), Douglas Harvie (MCS 1969-74), Alistair Campbell (MCS 1962-67) and John Mitchell (MCS 198388).
Spring Concert
The Colinton & Merchiston Community Choir is delighted to announce they will be holding a Spring Concert in Memorial Hall on Sunday 26 March, 7:30pm.
The concert will be conducted by Timothy Coleman and will feature pieces from Haydn, Mozart, Mendelssohn and Elgar. Further information on the Choir and the event can be found via their website .